216 



DR T. ANDERSON ON SOME OF THE 



twice that quantity. If this be the case, opianine must be a base entirely unique 

 in its properties ; for in all the fixed alkaloids hitherto examined, the whole of the 

 nitrogen is converted into ammonia with the utmost facility by ignition with 

 soda lime. On this ground alone I should be inclined to question the accuracy 

 of Hinterberger's results ; and these doubts are increased by a more minute 

 examination of his analyses. In two determinations by Dumas's method, he ob- 

 tains 4-12 and 4*41 per cent, of nitrogen, while the calculation for his formula 

 requires 4*45. Now it is a familiar fact, that, owing to the impossibility of re- 

 moving the last traces of atmospheric air from the tube, the determination of 

 nitrogen as gas invariably gives a larger quantity than theory requires, so much 

 so that an excess of a half per cent, is not uncommonly met with, even in the hands 

 of the most careful experimenters. But in both of Hinterberger's experiments, the 

 quantity falls short of theory, and in one of them to the extent of about 0*4 per 

 cent. Partly on this account, and partly because his formula is at variance with the 

 law of the divisibility of formula?, I incline to the opinion that it cannot be cor- 

 rect, and that in all probability his first nitrogen determinations are more accu- 

 rate, and to them I shall adhere. The details which Hinterberger has supplied 

 us with regard to opianine and its salts are extremely meagre, and do not afford 

 very decided grounds on w T hich to found a formula; but weighing them all, 

 the constitution of opianine appears to be best represented by G cc H 37 N0 22 . That 

 this formula would agree almost as well with Hinterberger's experiments as 

 that he has himself given, is at once obvious from the following comparison, in 

 which all his results excepting the nitrogen determinations are contained. 



Opianine. 



100-00 





Experiment. Calculation. 





c 66 n 36 N 2 21 C 66 H s? N0 22 



Carbon, 



62-99 63-06 6356 



Hydrogen, 



5-69 5-73 5-93 



Nitrogen, 



4-45 2-24 



Oxygen, 



27-76 28-27 



100-00 



Mercury Compound of Opianine. 



Experiment. Calculation. 



Carbon, 



49-14 



^6i -"36 "^2 '-'21 



49-50 



C C6 H 37 N0 2a 

 49-81 



Hydrogen, . 

 Nitrogen, 

 Oxygen, 

 Chlorine, 



4-60 

 9-31 



4-63 



3-50 



21-00 



8-87 



4-77 



1-76 



22-16 



8-93 



Mercury, 



12-28 



12-50 



12-57 



100-00 



100-00 



